Helia 44: Dimensions for solar

[LilleVenn]

I'm planning our solar installation, but I can't find any dimensons of the Helia EVO roof. Any help with measurements is very much apprecheated

[AllenRbrts]

I'll be happy to give you some measurements, but please narrow down where you are considering. My solar is behind the traveler. That is a good spot, but limits how many watts you can have unless you build support off the back. I have seen a number of Helias with panels on the davits as well. I can't help you there because I have the old style davits.

[Cotemar]

The Helia 44 Evo Cockpit roof is 188 inches wide at the back. Perfect for 3 of the SunPower X22-360 panels for 1000+ watts
.

[AllenRbrts]

Using the Sunpower panels is a good suggestion, but you probably should consider adding some support for the 16" hanging off the back of the roof. The traveller to the end of the flat section of roof is about 26" on the ends and 33" in the center. I use smaller panels which fit completely on the roof, but it is only 450 watts and I wish I had more.

[architetto]

I think you can use a solution similar this . . .

I suggest you to install four "SunPower - Serie Performance P17"
350W - 12V . . .

[LilleVenn]

thanks for the suggestions. Our minimum are 3 X21/X22 (1.04 or 1.08kw) sideways. With that it coud work without further support, but maybe one support could in addition act as cable guiding (thanks to Cotemar)
Up to now I could not find a way to arrange a other panel of this size without hanging it over the roof, but I keep going to search for

[AllenRbrts]

Here is an example of what that looks like. Notice the extra support for the panels used to support the ends. The coach roof is very weak behind the traveller. It might be okay without the support, but it would have a pretty big lever arm. The photo is of Nauti Ginger.

[TPF]

This is a photo of the flexible Solbian panels I used on our Helia in 2014. Spreading the 10 panel, 1250 watt array works well as a portion of the panels are generally always in clear sun each controlled by a separate Genasun controller without adding aft structures to the Helia.

[Louis.gombkoto2]

This my 1st post. I have just closed on my 2015 Helia 44 (hull #113, 561hr on the engines, 71 hr on the genset) on Sept 13th the boat is like new seems to have been used as a day sailer. Our long term goal is to circumnavigate the world with it. The boat is basically stock from the factory. My first priority is to add solar I have read every article I can find on cruisers form and other sources on the subject. It seems that 1000w of solar would cover our needs. I really like Cotemar configuration
others 1000w configurations use a lot of the salon real estate to get that number. I would like to ask Cotemar if he would be willing to share some more details and photo,’ about his configuration ( inverter charger battery bank etc ) and how he address the support issue or was it a non-issue.

[Cotemar]

Originally Posted by Louis.gombkoto2

This my 1st post. I have just closed on my 2015 Helia 44 (hull #113, 561hr on the engines, 71 hr on the genset) on Sept 13th the boat is like new seems to have been used as a day sailer. Our long term goal is to circumnavigate the world with it. The boat is basically stock from the factory. My first priority is to add solar I have read every article I can find on cruisers form and other sources on the subject. It seems that 1000w of solar would cover our needs. I really like Cotemar configuration
others 1000w configurations use a lot of the salon real estate to get that number. I would like to ask Cotemar if he would be willing to share some more details and photo,’ about his configuration ( inverter charger battery bank etc ) and how he address the support issue or was it a non-issue.

Go to the Face Book FP group to see all the great info on solar installs.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1017563221642960/